§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to take steps to bring remand limits in line with the Scottish limit of 110 days.
§ Mr. John PattenNo. Custody time limits are now in force in England and Wales, except in London and the south-east, where we plan to introduce them in 1990. The limits in England and Wales are 56 days to summary trial or 70 days to committal in magistrates' courts; and 112 days from committal to arraignment in the Crown court. In Scotland, the limits are 40 days to trial for summary offences and 110 days from commitment to trial for indictment cases. The different limits in England and Wales reflect the diferences in pre-trial procedures and the amount of business.